SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT DECEMBER 2021
Introduction
8 Cases in December
5 Poaching Cases
75% Success
December Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho Many parts of Lake Naivasha and generally many parts of Central Rift Conservation Area have received sporadic showers. The region is still experiencing a dry spell, with pasture and browse availability continually decreasing. The Unit attended to 8 Veterinary interventions during December in the Nakuru NP, Marula Estates, Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya Nut – Olmurongi, Kedong ranch, WRTI Annex areas amongst other areas. The Unit conducted general clinical case work, routine security patrols and assisted with several translocations. Cases included translocation of topis and hartebeests at Marula Estates, de-snaring of two oryx and two zebra within Naivasha and Soysambu Conservancy, treatment of an elephant for a bullet wound in the Masai Mara and relocation of one elephant from WRTI Annex in Naivasha to Masai Mara National Reserve to alleviate any human-wildlife conflict. Acknowledgement We sincerely thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for support, resources & sponsorship of the Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit especially the SWT CEO, Angela Sheldrick. Thanks to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for availing funds, personnel and other equipment (including trucks and lifting cranes for the elephant translocation. Thanks also to the National Air Services Department who provided the helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft as well as Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) for sourcing the collar from Mara Elephant Project (MEP). Special thanks to the KWS Director, Prof. Charles Musyoki who attended, participated and coordinated the elephant translocation exercise. We sincerely thank all stakeholders and scouts and who reported the cases in distress. Thank you all.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
21-Dec-21
Antelope
Naivasha
Snared
21-Dec-21
Antelope
Naivasha
Snared
23-Dec-21
Zebra
Soysambu Conservancy
Snared
24-Dec-21
Zebra
Naivasha
Snared
26-Dec-21
Elephant
Masai Mara NR
Bullet Wound
29-Dec-21
Antelope
Naivasha
Relocation
30-Dec-21
Antelope
Naivasha
Relocation
31-Dec-21
Elephant
Naivasha
HWC
Outcome
This oryx had been snared by a nylon Successfully rope on the neck, horns and front leg Treated This oryx had had been snared by a nylon Successfully rope on the neck, horns and front leg Treated The zebra had been snared and wounded Prognosis by a wire snare on the hind leg Poor Successfully The zebra had a wire snare on neck Treated The elephant had a suffered a 10cm Prognosis deep wound on the left front leg Poor 6 hartebeests and 10 topis were Task translocated Successful 6 hartebeests and 10 topis were Task translocated Successful Relocation of one of the 5 stray Task elephants in WRTI annex, Naivasha town Successful
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations December 2021 21-Dec-21 21-Dec-21 23-Dec-21 24-Dec-21 26-Dec-21 29-Dec-21 30-Dec-21 31-Dec-21
Case 1 – 21st December 2021 Oryx
Snared
Marula Estates, Naivasha
This male oryx had been snared by a nylon rope around the neck, horns and front leg. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The oryx was darted with 6mg Etorphine plus 60mg Azaperone. The snare was removed then the oryx administered with 4ml Noromectin® 1% w/v (Ivermectin) by SQ route and 15ml Butasal®(Interchemie) (Butafosfan+Vit B12, Cyanocobalamin) by IM route Reversal and Prognosis The anesthetic was reversed with 36mg Diprenorphine given by IV & IM route. Prognosis of the case is good.
Case 2 – 21st December 2021 Oryx
Snared
Marula Estates, Naivasha
This female oryx had had been snared by a nylon rope around the neck, horns and front leg. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The oryx was darted with a dart filled with 6mg Etorphine and 60mg Azaperone. The oryx on clinical examination had suffered wounds and bruises to the front leg. The bruises were sprayed with Alamycin Oxytetracycline spray (fly repellant).
The oryx was then administered the following: I. II.
Alamycin® 300 LA (Oxytetracycline 30%) 6,000mg by IM route Flumeg® 5% (Flunixin meglumine) 200mg by IM route
Reversal and Prognosis The oryx was reversed from the anesthesia with 36mg Diprenorphine given by IV & IM route. Prognosis of the case is good.
Case 3 – 23rd December 2021 Zebra
Snared
Soysambu Conservancy
A snared zebra was reported by the Soysambu Conservancy Staff and the Unit quickly responded Immobilisation, examination and treatment This zebra was darted with 5mg Etorphine combined with 100mg Azaperone. Physical examination revealed the zebra had been snared and wounded by a wire snare on the hind leg. The wound was cleaned liberally with water then rinsed throughly with Iodine before being sprayed with Alamycin fly replellant. The zebra was then administered the following: I. II. III. IV.
Betamox® LA (Amoxicillin Trihydrate) 6,000mg by IM route Phenylbutazone 20% (AGRAR Holland) 800mg by IM route Noromectin® 1% w/v (Ivermectin) 4ml by SQ route Butasal®(Interchemie) (Butafosfan+Vit B12, Cyanocobalamin) 15ml by IM route
Reversal and Prognosis The zebra was reversed from the anesthesia with 24mg Diprenorphine given by IV & IM route. Prognosis of the case is guarded.
Case 4 – 24th December 2021 Zebra
Snared
Kenya Nut, Olmurongi, Naivasha
This case was reported by Kenya Nut – Olmurongi staff.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra was darted using 5mg etorphine plus 100mg Azaperone dart. On physical examination the zebra had a wire snare around the neck which luckily hadn’t caused any injuries. so no treatment was required. The snare was removed successfully. Reversal and Prognosis Once the snare was removed the zebra was reversed from the anesthesia with 24mg Diprenorphine given by IV & IM route. As there were no injuries the prognosis of the case is good.
Case 5 – 26th December 2021 Elephant
Bullet Wound
Masai Mara National Reserve
This case was reported by Tana Pike of Cottars Camp. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted with 17mg Etorphine. Physical examination revealed the elephant had suffered a 10cm deep wound on the left front leg. The depth of the wound was up to the bone level and most likely caused by a bullet.The wound was lavaged with water, Hydrogen peroxide, and dilute tincture of Iodine. The elephant was also administered the following 30,000mg Adamycin 30% LA (Oxytetracycline), 1,250mg Flumeg 5% (Flunixin meglumine) and 50ml Butasal 50ml by IM route. Reversal and Prognosis The elephant was reversed from the anesthesia with 72mg Diprenorphine given by IV & IM route. Due to the severity and the depth of the wound, the prognosis of the case is guarded.
Case 6 & 7 – 29th & 30th December 2021 Topi/Oryx
Relocation
Marula Estates, Naivasha
Marula Estates of Nakuru County made an urgent request for the relocation of 7 hartebeests, 7 topis and 2 impalas from a crop area of the property to Hill cake area (predator free area). This was an urgent translocation activity as animals were foraging on crops sprayed with agrochemicals and chemical fertilizers. On the 29th & 30th of December 2021 six hartebeests (4 males and 2 females and ten topis (5 males and 5 females) were translocated the short distance within Marula Estates Ltd.
Immobilisation The hartebeests were especially very jittery of vehicles and people; they were not easily approachable and ran for long distances within the farmed area. The topis were much easier to approach and dart. The animals were darted one by one from a vehicle. The adult animals were immobilised with a combination of 5mg Etorphine Hcl and 30mg Azaperone whilst the sub-adults animals were immobilised with 3mg of Etorphine and 20mg Azaperone. Betamox (Amoxicillin Trihydrate) and Dexamethasone were administered to any animal which had suffered minor injuries.
Transport and Release The animals were manually loaded onto a on a pick-up truck with hay beddings and transported under general anesthesia for a short distance, sometimes less than 1km, across the Lake Naivasha North Road. The opioid effects were reversed with 24mg Diprenorphine Hcl or 40mg of Naltrexone injected by IV and IM route when offloaded at the release site. Sample Collection The samples collected included: Non coagulated blood in EDTA coated vacutainers, clotted blood, ticks, as well as hair and skin tissue from the tip of the ear for genetic studies. Whole blood was centrifuged and the serum as well as the blood in EDTA were transferred into individual cryovials and preserved in liquid nitrogen.
Results The exercise was a success largely due to the co-operation and support from the management and staff of Marula Estates as the six hartebeests and 10 topis were captured and relocated without any complication. One male hartebeest escaped into the thick bush and could not be traced during this 2-day translocation exercise. This hartebeest shall be captured opportunistically at a later date when he resurfaces. One male sub-adult male hartebeest was euthanized as it suffered and irreversible neck injury. Two impalas were not captured but shall be captured on a later day during routine veterinary activities.
Case 8 – 31st December 2021 Elephant
Human-wildlife conflict
WRTI Annex, Naivasha
This elephant was one of the 5 stray elephants in Naivasha, that was in the WRTI annex, Naivasha town area. To avoid conflict, it needed to be relocated away from populated areas. Immobilisation and relocation This bull was particularly aggressive, so it was planned to dart him from a helicopter. A vehicle was on standby for darting in case helicopter darting proved difficult and eventually it was darted from the vehicle whilst the helicopter controlled the movement of the bull. The elephant was immobilised with 8mg Etorphine Hcl. Once fully immobilised the elephant was quickly loaded with a lifting crane onto the loading trailer whilst under general anesthesia. The bull was then reversed from the anesthesia with 60mg Diprenorphine Hcl given IV and IM. Immediately after the anesthesia was reversed, the bull was transferred to the transport container. The animal was translocated and safely released at the Masai Mara National Reserve during the night of 31st December 2021.